Relief in Maha & Goa, not Delhi

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Wednesday told a media conference that 10 out of 13 samples of Maggi failed laboratory tests and were found to be unsafe, containing lead, exceeding the

permissible level.

“The government has put a ban on Maggi noodles for 15 days. We have asked Nestle India to withdraw Maggi stocks within 15 days. We will carry out lab testing of fresh stocks and a decision will be taken accordingly thereafter,” said Jain. Country’s food safety regulator, too, ordered nationwide tests of the instant snack amid mounting food-safety fears. The company faced reverses in the market too as the stocks of Nestle India plunged.

Meanwhile, Nestle India said it has not received any order from Central or state authorities for recall of Maggi noodles. “We wish to state that we have till now not received any orders from any state/Centre FDA authorities to recall Maggi noodle products in the market except an order from the Uttar Pradesh FDA dated 30.4.2015 asking us to recall a batch of Maggi noodles manufactured in February 2014, which had already reached the best before date in November 2014,” it said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the nation’s food regulator, too ordered nationwide tests following directions from Union food minister Ram Vilas Paswan. “If contents are injurious to health, we will take action. We will find the culprits. They will be punished,” said Paswan.

G Gurucharan, additional secretary in the food and consumer affairs ministry, said test results so far showed higher than permissible lead levels in noodles on sale in New Delhi, warning of possible regulatory action against the company. “Samples have been tested from all across the country, we are getting the results one by one,” he said. The Union health ministry said it, too, would look into the matter. The Army too issued advisory to its personnel asking them not to eat Maggi noodles. It also directed its canteens not to sell till further orders.

There was partial respite when the Maharashtra and Goa governments on Wednesday gave a clean chit to Nestle, saying the state’s test samples didn’t show any negative result.“We have taken some samples but we have not found any negative reports. I am in constant touch with food and drug administration commissioner Harshadeep Kamble,” Maharashtra food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat said.